Centrifuge and mold holder therefor



March 27, 1928.

H. BARKSCHAT CENTRIFUGE AND MOLD HOLDER THEREFOR Filed March 29. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 1 fzwezziw" .ife/zrz jar/behalf March 27, 1928.

Filed March 29. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 27, 1928.

H. BARKSCHAT" CENTRIFUGE AND MOLD HOLDER THEREFOR Filed March 29. 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 15 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED sures 1,663,896: PATENTMOFFICE.

HENRY BARKSCHAT, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 'l0 MARBELITECOB- PORATION OF AMERICA, 0]? L05 ANGELES,'CALIFORNIA,' A CORPORATION OFDELAVIARE.

GENTRIFUGE m) mom) HOLDERYTHEREFOB.

' Application filed. Mina 29, 1926. Serial No. 98,176.

This invention has to do generally with machines for molding plasticmaterial by thecentrifugal method and has as its principal object toprovide holders adapted to be used in connection with such machineswhereby articlesof unusual con-figuration or dimen sions may be cast.

I will describe the invention in connection y with centrifuges forcasing elongated" articles such as ornamental lamp posts and partsthereof, but this description is merely chosen in order that a clearconception of the invention may be had and is notconsidered-aslimitative. In centrifugating ornamental lamp posts twospaced, and substantially ially alined centrifuges are ordinarilyemployed, one being arranged togrip the elon gated mold at each end. Dueto their spac ing, they are not adaptedto take molds of the size usuallyemployed for casting post capitals and the like. The centrifugeshaveanother limitationinasmuch as their chuck holding drums, through whichthe post molds extend, are of such diameter thatthey cannot take moldswhich have any degreeof lateral spread, for instance, molds for castingcapitals which have wide spreading cross arms.

I have provided means whereby centrifuges which are spaced to take usualpost molds maybe adapted also to take molds which are of lesserlongitudinal extent than the spacing between centrifuge units or havingsuch lateral spread that theycan-not be taken within the centrifugedrums. Thus I am enabledto use ordinary equipment for casting thesearticles of unusual configuration, with obvious economic saving. p

Furthermore, the adapter becomes, in effect, the same as anordinaryfelongated post mold, and consequently certain advan tagesgained in a particular mounting ofthe elongated post molds in thecentrifuges, may also be had in connection with articles I I lar heads12 and 13 which are connected by bars 14, these'bars preferably beingsubstan- 100 held by the adapter.

Further objects and novel features of the invention will be madeapparent in-the fol? lowing detailed description, reference being had tothe accompanyingdrawings, in

which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a centri fuge made up of two unitsequipped with my adapter or holder; i.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig.1,

Fig. Sis a diagrammatic end view of Fig.

1 illustrating'certain chuck characteristics; Fig. 4'is a detached, planview of the adapter or holder, showing a mold-element cl am-pedtherein;

Fig-'5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 4;

' Fig. 6is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 4; Fig. Sis a sectionon line 8-8of Fig. 4; and

showing a plurality of mold elements clamped therein. I e

I willfirst describe the preferred construc tion of the holderoradapter, as illustrated in Figs. 4' to 8, inclusive. The adapter-may becharacterized as a cylindrical holder or cage Which is adapted to beparted longitudinally order that the mold element may be introduced toand withdrawn from the interior of the holder. Considered in. its

holder H is shown as being'made up of two substantially symmetricalparts 10' and 11, and it is desirable that all elements of the holder bearranged symmetrically about the longitudinal axis ofthe holder, whenassembled," in order that it may be as nearly as possible in balance;Since sections 10 and 11 may be identical, but one need be described indetail. There are two spaced semi-circuof a mold for a cross arm capitalfor ornamental light posts) to project therebetween. While-the head andbars may be made of any suitable material and formed in any suitable Fig. 9 is a plan. view of the adapter but 65 The skeleton construction 30above, the holder is adapted 5 manner, I find that by making the headsand bars of wood, the sharper vibrations from the centrifuge which holdthem are damped or absorbed before they reach the molded element heldtherein, and consequently the mold element, ordinarily made of castmetal, is not so readily crystallized or fatigued.

'lVhere wood is employed in making up the bars, metal reinforcing stripsor plates 15 preferably are bolted at 16 along the outer edges of thebars, andthe ends of the bars are secured to the heads by bolts or lagsl7. Cemented, nailed or otherwise suitably secured to heads 12 arestrips 18 of belting or fabric, such materials offering good grippingsurfaces for taking the chucks of the centrlfuges to be described, andalso contributing to the resiliency of the connectionbetw'een thecentrifuges and the mold elementwhereby vibrations are taken up ordampened before they reach the mold element.

Secured to the inner faces of bars 14- are pads 20 of belting, fabric orthe like, which are adapted to engage element M, centering and clampingit within the holder when the two holder parts are clamped together. The

mold is thus disposed with its longitudinal axis substantiallycoincident with the; axis of rotation of the holder. Due to theresilient nature of these pads, they also aid in dampening vibrationsbefore they reach the mold element, and since they are yieldable innature, do not tend to mutilate or injure the mold even though clampedwith considerable tightness thereabout.

Spaced from heads 12 and 13 are substantially semi-circular bands 21which are secured to the outer faces of bar 14 as at 22. Preferably,diagonal braces 23 extend from bands 21 to adjacent head sections.

With the holder parts separated, mold element M is lowered into positionon pads 20,

and then the other holder part is lowered onto the mold element, theheads and'bands of the two parts being in complementary relation and thebars pressing inwardly upon the mold element with sufficient force tohold it against displacement after clamps 24 have been applied to bands21. These clamps comprise two substantially arcuate sections 26 and 27hingedly connected by strips 28 and having terminal flanges 29throughwhich a clamping bolt 30 extends. When bolt 30 is removed, theclamp parts may be swung apart as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7 toclearthe upper holder-part so it centered within the holder, and in Fig.9

I have shown how a plurality of relatively small mold elements M may beheld in centered relation within a single holder 10 With certain typesof capital molds, there may be three or even more of such moldssupported by a single holder. 7

While the exact nature of the centrifuges used in connection with theholder is unimportant to the invention considered in its broaderaspects, I have shown a type of centrifuge which is especially welladapted for use with the holder." The machine is made a up oftwosubstantially identical and axially alined units 31 and 32, havingcylindrical mold carriers or open ended drums 33 and 34, carrying chuckjaws 35 and 36, respec t-ively. These jaws-may be arranged in anysuitable manner (not shown since many standard jaw actuating means arewell known to those skilled in the art) which are adapted to take theends of usual lamp post molds. Now the longitudinal spacing of units 31and 32 is such that mold elements M or M cannot be takenby both chucks35 and 36, nor is the inside diameter of either drum 33 or 34sufficiently large to take the cross arm portions l\ of mold elements M.7

However, holder H is of such length that heads 12 and 13 may be taken;by chucks 35 and 36, respectively, so the holder and hence the moldelements may be rotated in the same manner as the lamp post molds (notshown) which themachine is adapted nor mally to rotate.

Jaws 35. and 36 are movable by any usual mechanism (not shown) toa'lloweasy insertion and withdrawal of heads 12. v

'Each drum is supported by rollers 37 which are journaled in frames 38and en gage roll-ways 39 in the usual manner. In order that frames 38'need not be built excessively heavy to withstand the vibrations setup bythe drums during rotation, thereof, i t

is preferable that roller shafts 3'7 be yield ably mounted in theframes.

forth in United StatesLettersPatent No. 1,391,164, issued to me Sept.20, 1921; shaft boxes 40 being slidably mounted for movement in radialpaths towards andfaway from the drum axes and being urged toward saidaxesby adjustable springs 41.

Belts 42 are run over crowned portions 43 of drums 33 and 34, and aredriven from power shaft 44 by pulleys 45. While the drawings indicatethat both drums are posi-' tively driven, it is usually desirable toapply power to one, only, the other merely being guided in its movementby the associated set of rollers 37; I I

Now it is usual to arrange units 31 and 32 so the drum axes areapproximately alined For instance, they-may be mounted .inthe manner"set and to hold the, mold concentrically in both 1 drums so rotation ofthe alined drums causes simple rotation of the mold. However, ina PatentNo. 1,544,879 issued to me on Julydisengagement of the excess water inthe plastic mass, to hasten the compacting of the aggregate deposited onthe mold walls, and to prevent classification of the concreteconstituents. Since the holder of the present invention becomes, ineffect, similar to the molds used in connection with the machinedescribed in the last mentioned patent, it follows that with a machineotherwise similarly arranged to the centrifuges therein described, theholder, and hence the mold elements held thereby, are given the samechar acter of movement as the post molds and the same advantages aregained.

The desired gyratory movement of the adapter may be gained in any one ofseveral manners. For instances, the centrifuge may be altered so thateither or both ends of the holder or adapter are eccentrically mountedin the drums. This may be done in the manner diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 3. Chuck jaws 35 in drum 34 are adapted to hold head13 concentrically within said drum, while jaws 36 are offset withrespect to the axis of rotation of drum 83 and therefore hold head 12 atthe left-hand end of the holder (as viewed in Fig. 1) eccentricallywithin said drum 33. Drum rotation consequently gyrates the ends of theholder with respect to one another, (the chuck jaws being arranged tograsp the holder collars in a manner to allow this relative movement ofthe mold ends) and hence gyrates the ends of mold element M with respectto one another, with the advantageous eifects mentioned above.

It will be understood the drawings and description are to be consideredmerely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claimsappended hereto, for various changes in design, structure andarrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofsaid claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

a pair of spaced and substantially axially alined centrifuge units, eachhaving centrally arranged work-taking chucks, and an elongated moldholder adapted to extend longitudinally between the'units and to bespacing between units, and releasable means.

adapted to hold the sections against'relative movement and to clamp themold element between the sections; v

2'."In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced andsubstantially axially alined centrifuge units, eachhavingc'entra'llyarranged work-taking chucks, and an elongated moldholder adapted to extend longitudinally between the units and to betaken nearits opposite ends and to be rotated by said chucks, saidholder embodying a substantially cylindrical, skeleton frame made up ofa plurality of relatii' ely movable sec} tions adapted to take betweenthem a mold element of lesser longitudinal extent than the spacingbetween units, and releasable means adapted to hold the sections againstrelative movement and to clamp the mold element between the sections.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced andsubstantially axially alined centrifuge units, each having centrallyarranged work-taking chucks, and an elongated mold holder adapted toextend longitudinally between the units and to be taken near itsopposite ends and to be rotated by said chucks, said holder beingadapted to support between said units a mold element of lesserlongitudinal extent than the spacing between units; there being holderelements of relatively resilient material between the points of chuckengagement and points of mold element support.

4. In a mold holder for centrifuges, a frame embodying spaced andaxially alined cylindrical heads, each made up of a plurality ofseparable parts, a plurality of frame bars extending between and.connecting the corresponding sections of the two heads, said barsextending in substantial parallelism with the common head axis and beingradially spaced from said axis, the heads being adapted to be parted forthe introduction of a mold'element between said bars, and releasablemeans adapted to engage the bars to hold said head parts againstseparative movement and to clamp the mold ment substantially in'axialcoincidence therewith, and means at two longitudinally spaced pointsalong the holder adapted to rotatably support said holder in a manner togyrate said points with respect to one another and thereby to gyrate oneend of the mold element with respect to the other end.

6. Ina device of the character described, a pair of spaced andsubstantially axially alined centrifuge units, each having centrallyarranged work-taking chucks, and an elongated mold holder adapted toextend longitudinally between the units and to be taken near itsopposite ends and to be rotated v by said chucks, said holderembodying-a substantially cylindrical, skeleton frame made up of aplurality of relatively movable sec-, tions adapted to takebetween thema mold element, and releasable means adapted to hold the sectionsagainst relative movement and to clamp the mold element between thesections.

v7. In a device of the character described, a pair of spaced andsubstantially axially alined centrifuge units, each having centrallyarranged work-taking chucks, and an elongated mold holder adapted'toextend there being holder elements of relatively resilient-,materialbetween the points of chuck en a 'em'ent and )oints of mold ele mentsupport. 7

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 8th day of March, 1926.

HENRY BARKSGHAT.

